FRANKLIN COUNTY, Fla. (WTXL) - Franklin County officials are working to find and fund solutions to a growing problem on Alligator Point.
Last August, Hurricane Hermine washed out Alligator Drive and it still hasn't been fully fixed. Representatives from the Federal Emergency Management Agency were on site Thursday morning, checking out the damage that they may end up helping to pay for.
Some of the issues residents face include temporary stoplights, bumpy and sandy one-lane roads, and some roads closed completely.
"Traffic has now moved off of what was the main road next to the beach onto the road in front of our house, so traffic has gone from three or four cars a day to just constant cars passing," said Thomas Orban, an Alligator Point resident.
The problem has folks wondering why Alligator Drive still hasn't been fixed. Alligator Drive is the only way in or out of the area for hundreds of homeowners.
"The estimated road repairs are $3.5 million," explained Alan Pierce, the Franklin County RESTORE Coordinator. "The county does not have $3.5 million sitting in the bank."
That's why the county has asked the Federal Emergency Management Agency to help. Although FEMA has finally been out to assess the damage, that doesn't mean a repair is coming any time soon. That's because county officials say the solution to this problem is more than just a one-time fix.
"To put the road back to where it was before the storm, we know the road will be damaged again," said Pierce. "So we've asked for mitigation money to the tune of almost a million and a half dollars to put a sheet pile revetment here, which is basically a vertical wall, that will then repel the water, the wave action. That will be a much more permanent solution."
That permanent solution means going through FEMA's environmental assessment process, which, by law, has to be done before they release any funds. That can take six months or longer. In the meantime, the county is working on a design for the wall, but that also has to be approved before they can start construction.
Meanwhile, neighbors are hoping their roads can survive another one or even two hurricane seasons while they wait.
"If they're going to do it, they oughta do it right and fix the whole road," said Thomas.
Another costly expense are the temporary stoplights on Alligator Drive. Pierce says they're about $4,500 a month to rent. However, if FEMA approves the road repair project, they may reimburse Franklin County for the expense.
